Trump confronted Hegseth over Iran war and US weapons stockpiles, report says
WASHINGTON, DC: President Trump got into a tense argument with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about the Iran war only a few weeks after fighting broke out, sources told TIME.
In April, Trump called Hegseth and other high-ranking military leaders into the Oval Office. He wanted a status report on the war, a conflict he had already promised Americans would be over by then.
Hegseth disputes report on US weapons stockpiles
During the tense showdown, Trump handed Hegseth a printout of a New York Times article saying the US was rapidly draining its munitions stockpiles, including more than 1,200 Patriot interceptor missiles that cost more than $4 million each, in the first few weeks of the conflict alone.
"What the f*** is this?" Trump said to Hegseth as he handed him the printout, sources told TIME.
Hegseth shrugged off the article, calling it “fake news.” He accused it of twisting facts and blowing the numbers out of proportion to make the US look bad.
The Times also reported that the US had to get military supplies from Asia and Europe, which it said opened up command structures to possible risks from Russia and China.
Those numbers, including the reported use of more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles during the Iran war, almost 10 times what the military usually buys in a year, came from internal Defense Department estimates.
Both the White House and the Pentagon have denied that the reported exchange between Trump and Hegseth took place.
"President Trump has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth, who always gives him fulsome, accurate information," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the Daily Beast.
"The United States Military has enough munitions and ammo to serve all of the Commander-in-Chief's strategic goals and beyond."
Trump and Hegseth faced further tensions over munitions
The US has struggled with a shrinking weapons stockpile throughout the Iran war, which has now continued for more than seven months and remains unresolved.
Back in August, The Washington Post reported another tense moment between Trump and Hegseth at Camp David. Trump reportedly demanded answers from Hegseth over the military's munitions shortages and said he believed the issue had already been fixed. The White House and Pentagon denied the reported exchange.
That month, Trump also took to Truth Social with a warning that anyone leaking what he labeled “treasonous statements” was “being hunted down” and risked “long term jail sentences.”
The Washington Post later reported that the Iran war had placed further pressure on US weapons stockpiles, with shortages involving long-range guided missiles and air-defense interceptors.
Trump also warned that he may dramatically escalate the war in Iran and launch a new wave of bomb attacks after the midterms if a deal with Tehran is not reached.
"Because by annihilating Iran, we've created peace in the world," Trump told Time. "With Iran, I don't think you could ever have peace."
